Millions Attend Funeral Procession for Iran’s Khamenei Amid Calls for Revenge Against US and Israel

Millions of Iranians flooded the streets of Tehran on Monday to participate in a massive funeral procession for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on February 28 that triggered the ongoing war. The procession featured Khamenei’s coffin alongside those of four family members who died with him, slowly transported on a decorated truck through densely packed crowds chanting for revenge against the United States and Israel and holding threatening signs targeting former US President Donald Trump.

The funeral route stretched for kilometers from Enqelab Square (Revolution Square) to Azadi Square in western Tehran, with no official attendance figures released but estimates suggesting the crowd surpassed the one million who attended Qasem Soleimani’s funeral in 2020. The procession began in the morning and was expected to last about 12 hours before the coffins were flown to other cities in Iran and Iraq, including the holy city of Qom and Shiite shrine cities in Iraq, culminating in Khamenei’s burial on Thursday at the Imam Reza shrine in his hometown of Mashhad.

Authorities prepared extensively for the event, expecting 12 to 15 million visitors over six days of mourning, converting schools, mosques, and sports halls into accommodations and adjusting transportation routes. The coffins were displayed earlier to officials and the public at Tehran’s Mosalla prayer complex. Mourners dressed in black tried to touch the coffins or attach personal items to them, a traditional blessing practice. Due to extreme heat, firefighters sprayed water on the crowds to prevent dangerous overcrowding.

The procession also served as a demonstration of anger against the US and Israel, with participants burning American and British flags and carrying signs calling for the deaths of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A large billboard depicting Trump with a crosshair on his head was pelted with stones. Red flags symbolizing revenge were prominently displayed, and chants declared, “We are not here to say goodbye, we are here for revenge.”

Notably absent was Khamenei’s designated successor and son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since his father’s death and reportedly suffered severe injuries in the attack. His three brothers attended the funeral alongside top regime officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani, and former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The regime emphasized unity and continuity amid internal and external turmoil.

The funeral was delayed over four months due to security concerns during the war, breaking Islamic tradition of rapid burial. The ceremonies have disrupted daily life and mobilized extensive state resources. President Raisi dismissed US criticism of the mourning as "fake tears," stating the public grief demonstrated the regime’s resilience. Meanwhile, diplomatic talks between Iran and the US remain on hold, with unresolved issues including Iran’s nuclear program and regional conflicts. The regime has yet to clarify Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition or public role, leaving a key question about Iran’s future leadership unanswered.